Two weeks on, classes resume at Hyderabad University as protests continue

Amid continuing protests over the death of PhD student Rohith Vemula, classes at the Hyderabad University resumed on Monday after a gap of 15 days, CNN-IBN reported.

An Indian Express report says that the University of Hyderabad agreed to one of the conditions set by the protesters, and will send a proposal to the HRD ministry for a job to Rohith’s brother Raja Vemula.

The university has been at the centre of a widespread agitation after the death of Rohith, amid claims that he was harassed and treated unfairly on account of his caste.

Earlier, the acting vice-chancellor of the university M Periasamy said that the officials had a meeting with student representatives, after which students agreed to allow regular functioning from Monday.

Protests after the death of Rohith Vemula. PTI

"They wanted some of the individuals involved in this punishment (suspension of Vemula and four others over alleged assault on an ABVP leader) to not be in the decision-making body or the administration, and all the SC/ST faculty members who have quit the administrative duties should resume their duties. We agreed to that," he said.

Earlier, the university's Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, spearheading the protests over Rohith's suicide, sought a public apology from the varsity administration over the suspension of five Dalit research scholars, including Rohith, last year.

"The University of Hyderabad must give a public apology to the five Dalit research scholars for the blatant casteist discrimination, humiliation and agony inflicted on them that eventually led to the death of our friend Rohith Vemula," JAC said in a statement.

The varsity had already revoked the suspension of the four research scholars after Rohith's suicide triggered a massive outrage.

The five students were suspended in last August for allegedly manhandling an ABVP leader.